The first film in Lars von Trier's 'Europa' trilogy which illuminates the traumas of Europe in the future. The two other parts are Epidemic (1987) and Europa (1991).
While Lars von Trier is a big admirer of Andrei Tarkovsky and often references the Soviet director on his films, Trier was informed that Tarkovsky watched this movie and hated it.
In the film, there is a scene where a lady is telling a tale to someone, during this tale she says "the house that Jack built". Which would, later on, become the title of one of Lars Von Triers films.
This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #80.
Acting debut of Stig Larsson, who later became a screenwriter - to not be confused with journalist and writer of the Millennium trilogy.